Mr Searle said Adel Rehman had caused inconvenience to other drivers in Dudley town centre after he and his brother by chance spotted Mr Abid.

He was then punched and he suffered the wound to his hand as he put up his arms to try and protect himself from the cricket bat.

In a victim impact statement Mr Abid later told police officers he had been left fearful for his safety and the incident had caused a great deal of stress for his family.

Bernard Porter, for Adel Rehman, said his client accepted he acted in a "stupid and impulsive" way while Heidi Kubik for his brother said he had learned his lesson and realised "it was not the way to go about things."

The brothers were each given a 12 month custodial sentence suspended for two years, placed on supervision for 18 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community.

The judge also told them they must each pay £375 compensation to Mr Abid while Adel Rehman was also disqualified from driving for six months.